Drop-In Ambidextrous Magazine Catch Assembly With Release Lever Protection Guide

ABSTRACT

A drop-in ambidextrous magazine catch assembly with release lever protection guide is described. The assembly may be implementable on a lower receiver of a firearm, and may include a magazine catch, a protection guide and a release lever. The magazine catch may be configured to, in a first position when installed in the lower receiver, latch onto a magazine inserted into the lower receiver to prevent the magazine from moving out of the lower receiver and, in a second position when installed in the lower receiver, unlatch the magazine to allow the magazine to move out of the lower receiver. The release lever may be pivotably mounted on the protection guide and connected to the magazine catch, the release lever configured to be in a pressed position or a non-depressed position such that, when in the pressed position, the magazine catch is moved to the second position.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION(S)

The present disclosure is part of a non-provisional application claimingthe priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.62/523,256 filed on 22 Jun. 2017, the content of which is incorporatedby reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to firearms. More specifically,the present disclosure relates to a drop-in ambidextrous magazine catchassembly with release lever protection guide.

BACKGROUND

Traditional AR-15 magazine catch assemblies typically can only beoperated from the right side of the AR-15 firearm (e.g., when theoperator of the AR-15 is facing in a direction pointed by the muzzle ofthe AR-15 firearm). To release the spent magazine, the operator needs topush a magazine release button on the right side of the firearm. Themagazine release button is usually operated by the same finger (e.g.,index finger) that operates the trigger of the firearm. In other words,the design of traditional AR-15 magazine catch assemblies is suitablefor right-handed operators but not necessarily for left-handedoperators. For left-handed operators, it is necessary to use the otherhand to actuate the magazine release button since the left index fingeris on the other side of the firearm.

There are numerous designs of ambidextrous magazine catch and releaseassembly available in the market. Most of them have to anchor theirpivot lever on the side of the lower receiver of the firearm, and thisintroduces the possibility of damaging the receiver coating. Someambidextrous magazine catch, and release assemblies are designed withinthe profile of the original magazine catch, but due to the geometrylimitation, the force needed to actuate the release button would beexcessive compared to that required to actuate the catch from the righthand side. In some designs the actuation button is too far away for theindex finger to reach compared to that of the right-hand side design.Above all, none of the existing designs has a protection guide as doesthe right side of the lower receiver, to prevent inadvertent actuationof the button if the firearm is bumped by an object.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure proposes a novel design of a drop-in ambidextrousmagazine catch assembly with release lever protection guide thataddresses aforementioned issued with existing designs.

In one aspect, a drop-in ambidextrous magazine catch assembly withrelease lever protection guide may be implementable on a lower receiverof a firearm. The ambidextrous magazine catch assembly may include amagazine catch, a protection guide and a release lever. The magazinecatch may be configured to, in a first position when installed in thelower receiver, latch onto a magazine inserted into the lower receiverto prevent the magazine from moving out of the lower receiver and, in asecond position when installed in the lower receiver, unlatch themagazine to allow the magazine to move out of the lower receiver. Therelease lever may be pivotably mounted on the protection guide andconnected to the magazine catch, the release lever configured to be in apressed position or a non-depressed position such that, when in thepressed position, the magazine catch is moved to the second position.

These and other objectives of the present disclosure will be appreciatedby those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the followingdetailed description of the preferred embodiments that are illustratedin the various figures and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitutea part of the present disclosure. The drawings illustrate embodiments ofthe disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the disclosure. It is appreciable that the drawings arenot necessarily in scale as some components may be shown to be out ofproportion than the size in actual implementation in order to clearlyillustrate the concept of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a perspective view of a drop-in ambidextrousmagazine catch assembly with a magazine release lever protection guidein accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a perspective view of a magazine catch inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a perspective view of a pivot and protectionguide in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a perspective view of a magazine release lever inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a perspective view of a drop-in ambidextrousmagazine catch assembly with the magazine release lever pressed inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a perspective view of a drop-in ambidextrousmagazine catch assembly in a locked position in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a perspective view of a drop-in ambidextrousmagazine catch assembly in a released position by pressing the magazinerelease lever in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a perspective view of a drop-in ambidextrousmagazine catch assembly in the released position by pressing themagazine release button on the right side of the lower receiver of thefirearm in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of a conventional AR-15 magazine catch.

FIG. 10 is a diagram of a conventional AR-15 magazine catch in a lockedposition.

FIG. 11 is a diagram of a conventional AR-15 magazine catch in areleased position.

FIG. 12 is a diagram of an AR-15 lower receiver with a conventionalmagazine release button.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Overview

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers areused in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or likeparts.

The position terms used in the present disclosure, such as “front”,“forward”, “rear”, “back”, “top”, “bottom”, “left”, “right”, “head”,“tail” or the like assume a firearm in the normal firing position, withthe firearm being in a position in which the longitudinal axis of thebarrel of the firearm runs generally horizontally and the direction offiring points “forward” away from the operator of the firearm. The sameconvention applies for the direction statements used herein.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a drop-in ambidextrous magazinecatch assembly 10 with a magazine release lever protection guide inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring toFIG. 1, ambidextrous magazine catch assembly 10 may include a magazinecatch 100, a pivot and protection guide 200, and a magazine releaselever 300. Each of magazine catch 100, pivot and protection guide 200,and magazine release lever 300 is described below with reference to FIG.2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, respectively.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of magazine catch 100 inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Magazine catch100 includes various novel features compared to a conventional magazinecatch, as described below. Referring to FIG. 2, magazine catch 100 mayinclude a pair of ears 101 with rounded corners and each with a pin hole104 in a center portion thereof. Magazine catch 100 may also include aclearance slope 102 cut or otherwise machined to accommodate magazinerelease lever 300. Magazine catch 100 may additionally include a flatend 103 as a result of the removal of the semicircular tail portion of aconventional magazine catch.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of pivot and protection guide 200in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Pivot andprotection guide 200 includes various novel features compared to aconventional protection guide, as described below. Referring to FIG. 3,pivot and protection guide 200 may include an enclosed cavity 201 thatis designed to accommodate the ears 101 of magazine catch 100 to allowears 101 of magazine catch 100 to slide up and down within cavity 201.Pivot and protection guide 200 may include two curved ribs 202 thatprotect magazine release lever 300 from accidental or inadvertentactuation (e.g., bumped or otherwise touched by a foreign object or theoperator). Specifically, pivot and protection guide 200 may be designedwith a height measured from a surface of the lower receiver on whichpivot and protection guide 200 is installed such that pivot andprotection guide 200 surrounds and is flush with magazine release lever300 when magazine release lever 300 is in a non-depressed position.

Pivot and protection guide 200 may include two extensions or side legs203 and an anchor leg 205. The side legs 203 may come in contact withlower receiver of the firearm, together with the anchor leg 205, toprovide support for pivot and protection guide 200 when magazine releaselever 300 is pressed by an operator. The bottom of each of the side legs203 may be attached with a pad or cushion (not shown) that is soft orelastic (e.g., soft rubber or plastic cushion) to prevent damage to thesurface of the lower receiver through contact. Anchor leg 205 may have across-sectional shape that is semicircular. When put together withmagazine catch 100, anchor leg 205 and magazine catch 100 may form theprofile of a conventional magazine catch. Pivot and protection guide 200may also include two pivot pin holes 204 (one on each side) thatpivotably connects magazine release lever 300 to pivot and protectionguide 200. Pivot and protection guide 200 may further include aclearance cut 206 to allow magazine catch 100 to slide up inside ofcavity 201.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of magazine release lever 300 inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Magazinerelease lever 300 may be designed to actuate magazine catch 100 to movemagazine catch 100 out of the lower receiver for a short distance sothat a magazine may be disengaged from magazine catch 100 to be droppedor pulled out of the lower receiver. Magazine release lever 300 includesvarious novel features compared to a conventional release lever, asdescribed below. Referring to FIG. 4, magazine release lever 300 mayinclude an elongated hole 301 designed to be connected with holes 104 onmagazine catch 100 with a first pin (not shown). The elongated shape(e.g., oval or elliptical in shape, not round) of hole 301 allows linearmovement magazine catch 100 in conjunction of pivotal movement ofmagazine release lever 300 when magazine release lever 300 is pressed toactuate magazine catch 100 in releasing a magazine. Magazine releaselever 300 may also include a round pin hole 302 designed to be connectedwith pivot pin holes 204 on pivot and protection guide 200 with a secondpin (not shown), and this allows pivotal movement of magazine releaselever 300 around this second pin. Other features of magazine releaselever 300 may include a release button 303, a clearance cut 304, a leverarm 305, and a stop 306 designed to interact with magazine catch 100 toprevent over travel.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of drop-in ambidextrous magazinecatch assembly 10 with the magazine release lever 300 pressed inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6illustrates a perspective view of drop-in ambidextrous magazine catchassembly 10 in a locked position in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure. FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of drop-inambidextrous magazine catch assembly 10 in a released position bypressing magazine release lever 300 in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present disclosure. FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of drop-inambidextrous magazine catch assembly 10 in the released position bypressing the magazine release button (not shown) on the right side ofthe lower receiver of the firearm in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present disclosure. As shown in each of FIG. 6, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8,the “front” direction is the direction in which the muzzle of thefirearm is pointed, and the “rear” direction is opposite the “front”direction and is usually towards the operator of the firearm. Accordingto this orientation, as shown in FIG. 7, the magazine catch assembly 10may be in a released position by pressing magazine release lever 300.Conversely, as shown in FIG. 8, the magazine catch assembly may also bein a released position by pressing a magazine release button on theright side of the lower receiver, without pressing magazine releaselever 300 on the left side of the lower receiver.

Advantageously, various embodiments of the drop-in ambidextrous magazinecatch assembly 10 with the magazine release lever 300 in accordance withthe present disclosure may be a drop-in replacement of conventionalmagazine catch without any modification to the lower receiver or thefirearm itself. The design of pivot and protection guide 200 preventsaccidental or inadvertent actuation of magazine release lever 300. Thesoft or elastic pads or cushions on the side legs 203 of pivot andprotection guide 200 prevent damage to the surface of the lower receiver(e.g., scratching of the surface of the lower receiver).

For comparison, a conventional AR-15 magazine catch is shown in FIG.9-FIG. 12. FIG. 9 illustrates a conventional AR-15 magazine catch. FIG.10 illustrates a conventional AR-15 magazine catch in a locked position.FIG. 11 illustrates a conventional AR-15 magazine catch in a releasedposition. FIG. 12 illustrates an AR-15 lower receiver with aconventional magazine release button.

It is noteworthy that, although embodiments of the present disclosuremay be described in the context of AR-15 firearms, embodiments of thepresent disclosure and their variations may also be implemented in otherplatforms (e.g., AR-10 firearms), whether rifles or pistols, whereapplicable. Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure is notlimited to AR-15 firearms.

Highlights of Select Features

In one aspect, a drop-in ambidextrous magazine catch assembly withrelease lever protection guide may be implementable on a lower receiverof a firearm. The ambidextrous magazine catch assembly may include amagazine catch, a protection guide and a release lever. The magazinecatch may be configured to, in a first position when installed in thelower receiver, latch onto a magazine inserted into the lower receiverto prevent the magazine from moving out of the lower receiver and, in asecond position when installed in the lower receiver, unlatch themagazine to allow the magazine to move out of the lower receiver. Therelease lever may be pivotably mounted on the protection guide andconnected to the magazine catch, the release lever configured to be in apressed position or a non-depressed position such that, when in thepressed position, the magazine catch is moved to the second position.

In some embodiments, the protection guide may include one or more padsor cushions in contact with the lower receiver when the protection guideis installed on the lower receiver.

In some embodiments, the one or more pads or cushions may be made of anelastic material.

In some embodiments, the protection guide may be designed with a heightmeasured from a surface of the lower receiver on which the protectionguide is installed such that the protection guide surrounds and is flushwith the release lever when the release lever is in the non-depressedposition.

In some embodiments, the protection guide and the release lever may beinstalled on a left side of the lower receiver when a magazine releasebutton is installed on a right side of the lower receiver. In suchcases, the magazine may be released from the lower receiver by pressingthe magazine release button on the right side of the lower receiver orby pressing the release lever on the left side of the lower receiver.

In another aspect, a firearm may include a lower receiver, a magazinecatch, a protection guide and a release lever. The magazine catch may beconfigured to, in a first position when installed in the lower receiver,latch onto a magazine inserted into the lower receiver to prevent themagazine from moving out of the lower receiver and, in a second positionwhen installed in the lower receiver, unlatch the magazine to allow themagazine to move out of the lower receiver. The release lever may bepivotably mounted on the protection guide and connected to the magazinecatch, the release lever configured to be in a pressed position or anon-depressed position such that, when in the pressed position, themagazine catch is moved to the second position.

In some embodiments, the protection guide may include one or more padsor cushions in contact with the lower receiver when the protection guideis installed on the lower receiver.

In some embodiments, the one or more pads or cushions may be made of anelastic material.

In some embodiments, the protection guide may be designed with a heightmeasured from a surface of the lower receiver on which the protectionguide is installed such that the protection guide surrounds and is flushwith the release lever when the release lever is in the non-depressedposition.

In some embodiments, the protection guide and the release lever may beinstalled on a left side of the lower receiver when a magazine releasebutton is installed on a right side of the lower receiver. In suchcases, the magazine may be released from the lower receiver by pressingthe magazine release button on the right side of the lower receiver orby pressing the release lever on the left side of the lower receiver.

Additional Notes

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made to the structure of the presentdisclosure without departing from the above-described embodiments orspirit of the present disclosure. Moreover, although examples given inthe present disclosure are directed to firearms and usage of theembodiments for firearms, there is no limit on the applications ofembodiments of the embodiments disclosed herein. That is, any suitableimplementation or application using an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, or variation thereof, is still within the scope of thepresent disclosure. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that thepresent disclosure cover modifications and variations of the presentdisclosure in view of the scope of the following claims and theirequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device implementable on a lower receiver of afirearm, comprising: a magazine catch configured to, in a first positionwhen installed in the lower receiver, latch onto a magazine insertedinto the lower receiver to prevent the magazine from moving out of thelower receiver and, in a second position when installed in the lowerreceiver, unlatch the magazine to allow the magazine to move out of thelower receiver; a protection guide; and a release lever pivotablymounted on the protection guide and connected to the magazine catch, therelease lever configured to be in a pressed position or a non-depressedposition such that, when in the pressed position, the magazine catch ismoved to the second position.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein theprotection guide comprises one or more pads or cushions in contact withthe lower receiver when the protection guide is installed on the lowerreceiver.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the one or more pads orcushions are made of an elastic material.
 4. The device of claim 1,wherein the protection guide is designed with a height measured from asurface of the lower receiver on which the protection guide is installedsuch that the protection guide surrounds and is flush with the releaselever when the release lever is in the non-depressed position.
 5. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the protection guide and the release leverare installed on a left side of the lower receiver when a magazinerelease button is installed on a right side of the lower receiver, andwherein the magazine is released from the lower receiver by pressing themagazine release button on the right side of the lower receiver or bypressing the release lever on the left side of the lower receiver.
 6. Afirearm, comprising: a lower receiver; a magazine catch configured to,in a first position when installed in the lower receiver, latch onto amagazine inserted into the lower receiver to prevent the magazine frommoving out of the lower receiver and, in a second position wheninstalled in the lower receiver, unlatch the magazine to allow themagazine to move out of the lower receiver; a protection guide; and arelease lever pivotably mounted on the protection guide and connected tothe magazine catch, the release lever configured to be in a pressedposition or a non-depressed position such that, when in the pressedposition, the magazine catch is moved to the second position.
 7. Thefirearm of claim 6, wherein the protection guide comprises one or morepads or cushions in contact with the lower receiver when the protectionguide is installed on the lower receiver.
 8. The firearm of claim 7,wherein the one or more pads or cushions are made of an elasticmaterial.
 9. The firearm of claim 6, wherein the protection guide isdesigned with a height measured from a surface of the lower receiver onwhich the protection guide is installed such that the protection guidesurrounds and is flush with the release lever when the release lever isin the non-depressed position.
 10. The firearm of claim 6, wherein theprotection guide and the release lever are installed on a left side ofthe lower receiver when a magazine release button is installed on aright side of the lower receiver, and wherein the magazine is releasedfrom the lower receiver by pressing the magazine release button on theright side of the lower receiver or by pressing the release lever on theleft side of the lower receiver.